All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

The food and show were both great. It seemed like a smaller venue than one we went to on Maui a few years ago, which was nice because there was less wait to get food and every seat had a great view of the show. Great for the kids, it wrapped up around 7:30pm. Fire dance was pretty cool as well.

I was unsure about joining the tour since I was going alone, but since it’s Hawaii Island, I decided to give it a try. This tour takes you to the summit in a 12-passenger bus. We go up to 4,200 meters, so to avoid altitude sickness, we take a 40-minute break at 2,700 meters to acclimatize. During that time, we could buy souvenirs and use the restroom, which was quite clean.

Once we reached the summit, it was very cold, around 0 degrees Celsius. Many people borrowed warm clothing, but I was fine with what I brought (a knit hat, neck warmer, fleece, down jacket, and thermal pants).

The sunset was amazing, as we could see it from a higher point than Mount Fuji. After that, we moved to a spot where we could see the starry sky, and while enjoying warm cocoa, we spent a luxurious time learning about which stars belonged to which constellations.

It’s a life-changing experience, so I highly recommend you go!

1人参加だしツアー行くか迷ってましたが、せっかくのハワイ島だから行ってみようと決めました。
こちらのツアーは12人乗りのバスで山頂までいきます。
4200mまであがるので、高山病にならないように2700m地点で40分休憩して体を慣らします。
そこではお土産を買えたりトイレも行けました。
トイレは普通に綺麗でした。

山頂まで行くととても寒くて0度くらいになります。
防寒具は借りてる人も多かったですが私は持参したもので足りました。
（ニット帽、ネックウォーマー、フリース、ダウン、浦起毛パンツ）

日の入りは富士山よりも高いところから見れてとても良いです。
その後、星空が見える位置まで移動し、どの星がどの星座か教えてもらいながら温かいココアをいただきながら贅沢な時間を過ごしました。

人生観が変わるのでぜひ行ってみてください！

It was an experience that could only be done on a tour! We had explanations on acclimatization to high altitudes, enjoyed BLT sandwiches, warm cocoa, and took lots of photos. I was thinking about not booking a tour and just seeing the starry sky on my own during the trip, but observing the stars from a place higher than the center was a really great experience.

ツアーじゃないとできない体験ばかりでした！
高地順応のポイント説明、BLTサンドに、温かいココアとたくさんの写真撮影。
旅ではツアー予約しないで星空を個人で見ようかなあとも思ったのですが、センターより高い場所での星空観測はとてもいい経験でした。

It was a time to quietly watch the sunset sinking into the sea of clouds. The colors changed moment by moment. As I looked at the sky, I felt my mind gradually quieting down. It's beautiful. Even though I couldn't express more than that, it felt sufficient. A time when I didn't have to think about anything or be anyone. I thought it was incredibly luxurious to have moments like this when my heart could unwind.

雲海に沈んでいくサンセットを、ただ静かに眺める時間だった。刻々と色が変わっていく。空を見ているうちに頭の中がすっと静かになっていくのを感じた。きれいだね。以上の言葉が出てこないのにそれで充分だった気がする。何かを考えなくても、何者かでなくてもいい時間。こんなふうに心がほどける瞬間があるのはすごく贅沢だと思った。

Great food , entertainment and company . Great time

Forrest was an amazing guide for a very complex and breathtaking history/landscape/culture.

What a wonderful experience to get close to dolphins! My daughter (11) loved it so much. She got to swim with the dolphins and work with the trainer to give commands to the dolphins. It was so exciting to see all the amazing knowledge these beautiful creatures have. The trainers provide so much information as to the care and conservation of dolphins.

Our guide was excellent, very knowledgeable and prepared and our experience was unique with the viewing of a huge shooting star crossing the sky as a prelude to the eruption of the volcano in the distance. Unforgettable, thank you!

It was a very interesting experience. Crew was very friendly and knowledgeable about the stars

I was nervous about the English tour, but our guide James was considerate and mixed in some Japanese. We were blessed with great weather and got to see the best sunset and starry sky! It was my first time seeing the Milky Way. I've participated in a Mauna Kea tour before, but this guide was great at taking creative photos. In the end, I wanted to give a tip, but I felt bad for not having any cash on me. I hope there will be a way to pay with a card in the future.

英語ツアーでドキドキでしたが、ガイドのジェームスさんは日本語を交えてくれたりして気遣ってくれました。お天気に恵まれて最高の夕日と星空が見られました！！
天の川を見たのは初めてです。以前もマウナケアツアーは参加したことがありますが、こちらのガイドさんは写真を工夫してとってくれたりして良かったです。
最後にチップを渡したかったのですが、現金を持っていなくて申し訳ない思いをしました。後でカードなりで払える形があると良いなと思いました。

I couldn't find a Japanese tour, so I joined an English tour, which made me a bit anxious, but the result was absolutely satisfying! At one point, the road to the summit was closed due to thick fog, but as predicted by our guide James, the closure was lifted, and we were able to experience the best sunset and a sky full of stars at the summit of Mauna Kea.

Even though Hawaii is a tropical paradise, the temperature at the 4,000-meter summit was very low, around 0 degrees Celsius, and the air pressure was also low, which posed a risk of health issues. However, James was incredibly reliable, preparing and guiding us like a Sherpa, which was truly reassuring.

The beauty of the sunset through the Subaru Telescope and the starlit sky viewed from an even higher location than the Mauna Kea foothills is something I will never forget. James took some very skillful and creative photos, which I continue to enjoy even after returning home. Thank you very much!

日本語ツアーが見つけられず、英語ツアーでの参加となり、すこし不安でしたが結果は大満足でした！
一時は濃霧で山頂への道が閉鎖されてましたが、ガイドのJamesさんの予想通り、閉鎖が解除されマウナケア山頂で最高の夕日と満天の星空に出会えました。
常夏の​国ハワイとはいえ4,000m山頂は、気温が0度前後と非常に低く、気圧も低いことから、体調をくずすリスクがある中で、Jamesさんがシェルパのように頼もしく準備・案内してくれ、本当に心強かったです。
​すばる望遠鏡越しに沈む夕日や、マウナケア山麓より、さらに高い場所で見上げる星空は、一生忘れることができない美しさでした。
Jamesさんはとても上手でクリエイティブな写真を撮ってくれ、帰国後も楽しませてもらっています。
ありがとうございました！

I was able to show my parents a sky full of stars. It takes about half a day, but I think it's a worthwhile experience. Thank you.

満天の星空を両親に見せることができました、時間は半日くらい掛かりますが、それに見合う体験だと思います、ありがとうございます。

Highly recommend. We had a local guide who did a fantastic job educating us about the people and culture of the valley. The views were stunning. Can’t say enough good about it.

The meeting went smoothly, and we were able to comfortably move from Kona to the Onizuka Center at the mid-level. It was New Year's Eve, and although the clouds were thick and it had been raining since the day before, I was glad to see rare snow falling at the summit of Mauna Kea! The sunset was beautiful. The stargazing was a bit disappointing due to the clouds, but overall, I had a great experience participating in this tour.

待ち合わせもスムーズに出来て、コナからも快適に中腹のオニヅカセンターに移動できました。大晦日の日でしたが雲も厚く前日から雨でしたが、マウナケア山頂では珍しく雪が舞っているのを見られて良かったです! サンセットはきれいに見れました 。星空は雲のため少し残念でしたがトータルでとても良いツアーに参加できました。

I participated with my 69-year-old mother at the end of December. I was anxious because I couldn't speak English and it was my first experience with snorkeling, but thanks to the excellent support, I was able to participate in the activities with peace of mind.

First, they were able to confirm reservations and answer inquiries in Japanese over the phone. Additionally, although the boarding staff only provided English guidance that day, a Japanese-speaking staff member came to pick us up since we had requested hotel transportation. That person helped us prepare for boarding, provided us with important information after we boarded, and supported us after we disembarked.

Even though it was the end of December in Hawaii, which made me worry about the cold sea, I followed the staff's recommendation to rent a wetsuit, and I felt comfortable without feeling cold at all. During the activities, there were enough staff members watching over and supporting the participants.

Thanks to this, I had a wonderful experience seeing many manta rays and a beautiful sunset. Even if we hadn't encountered any manta rays, I still think just snorkeling in the waters of Hawaii would have been a fantastic experience. I highly recommend it!

12月末に69歳の母と参加しました。
英語も話せずシュノーケリングも初体験のため不安でしたが、手厚いサポートのおかげで安心してアクティビティに参加することができました。
まず、電話での予約確認や問い合わせに、日本語で対応していただけます。
また、乗船スタッフは英語ガイドのみの日でしたが、ホテルへの送迎を頼んでいたところ日本語スタッフの方が迎えに来てくださいました。
その方に乗船までの準備を手伝っていただいたり、乗船後の注意点も教えていただいたり、下船後のサポートもしていただきました。
ハワイとはいえ12月末の海ということで寒さが不安でしたが、スタッフの方のお勧めに従いウェットスーツを借りたところ、寒さを感じることはなく快適に過ごせました。
アクティビティ中も、参加者に対して十分な人数のスタッフが見守ってサポートしてくれます。
おかげさまでたくさんのマンタと綺麗な夕日を見るという素晴らしい体験ができましたが、もしマンタと遭遇できなかったとしても、ハワイの海でシュノーケリングするというだけでも十分に素敵な経験だったと思います。
とてもおすすめです！

Only way to enter in the valley, it was great! Tour guide was really friendly and took lots of photos of us

I had a wonderful experience on the Mauna Kea tour. The trip was very well organized, and the whole experience was both smooth and memorable.

Our tour guide Jimms was excellent. He was friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable, and he explained everything clearly throughout the tour. He also made sure everyone felt comfortable and well taken care of, especially given the unique conditions at Mauna Kea.

This tour was truly unforgettable, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Thank you, Jimms, for such a great experience!

This experience was great ! Thank you ! Francis was very nice !

There is an observatory. The starry sky is very beautiful. I do not recommend driving there by yourself. The return trip is dark and the roads are bad.

天文台があります。星空か、とても綺麗です。自分で運転して見に行くのは、おすすめ出来ません。帰りは、暗く道も悪いです。

This tour is long but well worth it. We were picked up at the Starbucks, Queen’s Shopping Center, Waikoloa Beach Resort. We drove to the Mauna Kea Visitor’s Center where we had a very nice dinner. Next we went to the summit to view the telescopes and sunset from almost 14,000 feet. We the viewed the night sky through telescopes in almost complete darkness. Our driver and guide, Arthur, was fantastic. What a great experience!

Our Pearl Harbor and Ford Island tour was an unforgettable and meaningful experience. The visit to the USS Arizona Memorial was deeply moving, offering a powerful reminder of the events of December 7, 1941, and the lives lost that day. Touring the Battleship Missouri was equally inspiring—standing on the very deck where World War II ended felt humbling and historic. Our tour guide, Ernest, was an interesting and engaging addition who shared fascinating stories and insights that brought history to life. Lunch at the Ford Island Aviation Museum was good and provided a nice break in the day. We also appreciated the smooth, on-time flights between Kona and Honolulu with Southwest Airlines—comfortable and well-handled from start to finish. The round-trip bus transportation to and from the airport was convenient, well-organized, and stress-free. Overall, this was a well-planned, educational, and memorable day we’ll long remember.

This is a must see. Shuttle tour was safe, timely, and very informative. Our guide actually grew up in the valley so shared very accurate info. Beautiful place.

The starry sky was very beautiful. Also, the explanation of the constellations was good. I wouldn't really recommend driving yourself to the summit and back, as there are some bad spots on the road, and it's dark on the way back.

とても綺麗な星空でした。また、星座の説明も、良かったです。自分で運転して、山頂まで往復するのは、
あまりおすすめできません。道が悪い所もあり、帰りは、暗いです。

My first time at Mauna Kea! I had a valuable experience, and I felt reassured to have a Japanese guide named Shoyou! It was fun to chat as well ^_^

はじめてのマウナケア！貴重な体験ができたし、日本人のガイドさんしょうようさんがいて安心しました！お話もできて楽しかったです^_^

During my stay on Oahu, I took a two-day, one-night trip to the Big Island and participated in this tour! I was impressed by the bilingual guide, Sho-yo, and I had a valuable experience learning about Hawaii's history and culture in such a short time. I was worried about the weather throughout, but I was able to enjoy the world's most beautiful sunset, and the explanation of the starry sky was wonderful! Thank you for making my year-end vacation so special!

オアフ島に滞在しながら、一泊二日で
ハワイ島に出かけ、こちらのツアーに参加させていただきました！
翔洋さんのバイリンガルガイドにも感心しましたが、短い時間に貴重な体験とハワイの歴史と文化を感じ、たいへん勉強になりました！
終始お天気が心配でしたが、世界一の夕日も堪能させていただき、星空の説明も素敵でした！
とても素晴らしい年末休暇を彩っていただき
ありがとうございました！

When I climbed the mountain, I emerged from the clouds that enveloped the lower world, and it was truly mystical. The observatory, the sunset, and the starry sky made for a very fulfilling tour.

The various stories shared by our guide, James, were enjoyable and very educational! Thank you so much.

山を登っていったとき、下界が雲に包まれているうえに出て、なんとも神秘的でした。天文台、日没、そして星空ととても充実したツアーでした。

ガイドのジェームズさんによる様々なお話が楽しくとても勉強になりました！本当にありがとうございました。

We had a great time with Kimo. He made us feel at ease. He was very knowledgeable and funny. He was able to answer our questions and did not make us feel dumb. He also seemed to genuinely enjoy our party’s craziness.

After the snorkel, the crew offered hot cocoa and snacks, which was a nice way to warm up and reflect on the experience during the ride back under the stars

The tour was super well organized, with a guide who shared interesting insights along the way!

This tour is a must do while visiting the Big Island, as it has a perfect combination of natural beauty, cultural context, and astronomy!!!